Our History
The Lepert-Wolever Post is named in honor of the first two casualties from Cass County in World War II. The post was organized in 1945. Please read the histories of these fallen service members.
HAROLD R. WOLEVER JR.
Fireman 1st Class, United States Coast Guard
USCGC MUSKEGET WAG-48 – SUNK BY GERMAN U-755, NORTH ATLANTIC
From the Coast Guard Historian’s Office:
The U.S. Weather Observation Station Ship MUSKEGET (ex-CORNISH) departed Boston on the afternoon of 24 August, 1942, en route to Weather Station No. 2, 53°N – 42° 30’W. The first weather report from the vessel originated 28 August, 1942 while en route to her station. On 31 August, 1942 she reported on weather conditions. The last report on the weather was received from her 9 September, 1942, when she was awaiting the arrival of her relief, the USCGC MONOMOY. On 11 September 1942, the MONOMOY reported she was unable to effect relief of the MUSKEGET due to failure to establish communications. Enemy submarines were reported active and a message was transmitted by the MONOMOY for action of the MUSKEGET but the weather patrol vessel again failed to answer her call. Repeated efforts were made by the MONOMOY to contact the vessel without success. On 13 September 1942, the MONOMOY arrived at Weather Station No. 2 and cruised on station for 9 days. On 15 September 1942, upon a report from the MONOMOY of inability to communicate with the MUSKEGET, all aircraft and ships in the vicinity were directed to search for and report any positive results. This search on 16 September proved fruitless.
After a year had elapsed, Muskeget was presumed lost in action with no survivors. At the time of her sinking, she had 121 men on board: 9 commissioned officers, 107 enlisted men, one Public Health Service officer, and four civilian employees of the U.S. Weather Service.
German naval records recovered after the war indicated that U-755, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walter Göing, reported torpedoing a U.S. auxiliary merchant cruiser in Muskeget’s area of operation on 9 September 1942. It was probably this attack that caused the destruction of Muskeget and the loss of her entire crew.
American Legion Post 2543 in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, is named for one of the crewmen of Muskeget who was killed in action that day, Harold Wolever, Jr.
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George Philip Lepert
Private First Class, United States Army
AWARDS
During his service in World War II, Army Private First Class Lepert experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on 6 December 1942. Recorded circumstances attributed to: KIA – Killed in Action. Incident location: Papua New Guinea.
The 32D Division was the first U.S. Division to fight an offensive action against the Japanese in the Southwest Pacific. The Division fought in six major engagements in four Campaigns involving 654 days of combat, more than any other American Division during WWII. Many firsts were accredited to the 32D ‘Red Arrow’ Division. Pvt. Lepert was killed in action while engaged in combat with notorious Japanese Nava Infantry unit which had many years of experience fighting in China and South Asia.
Eleven Medals of Honor, 157 Distinguished Service Crosses, 49 Legion of Merit, 845 Silver Stars, 1854 Bronze Stars, 98 Air Medals, 78 Soldiers Medals and 11,500 Purple Hearts were awarded its heroes.
On 2 September 1945 General Tomoyuki Yamashita, Highest Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines, surrendered to the 32D Infantry Division on Luzon.
On 4 September 1945, an advance detachment of the 32D Division (1ST Battalion, 127TH Infantry) was flown to Kyushu (southern most of the four main Japanese islands) for occupation duty, only 5 days behind the earliest troop landings anywhere in Japan. The remainder of the Division arrived in Japan by 14 October 1945.